Washington, D.C. – Ahead of tomorrow’s one-year anniversary of Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that the landmark law has delivered nearly $800 million to 70 colleges and universities in Alabama in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. These investments are helping make institutions of higher education—especially community colleges—more affordable, while ensuring Alabama students stay on track to graduate. At least half of these funds are being used to provide direct financial relief to students. 

“As the only member of the Alabama delegation to vote in favor of the American Rescue Plan, I was proud to help secure urgently-needed funding to strengthen Alabama schools and support college students in our state,” said Rep. Sewell. “The success of our colleges, universities, and students is critical to the success of the State of Alabama, and one year after President Biden and the Democratic Congress enacted the American Rescue Plan, Alabama’s campuses are seeing results. Thanks to this landmark law, Alabama’s colleges and universities have the resources to continue serving students and bring down costs despite unprecedented health and learning challenges. As we emerge from this pandemic, I will continue fighting to Build a Better Alabama—especially for our students.” 

The American Rescue Plan delivered one of the largest one-time infusions of funding ever provided to America’s colleges and universities. Distributed by the U.S. Department of Education’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), these investments are already having a significant impact. A recent survey of college presidents by the American Council on Education found that HEERF enabled:

• 93 percent of colleges to provide direct financial support to students at risk of dropping out
• 81 percent of colleges to keep student net prices similar to pre-pandemic levels
• 70 percent of colleges to continue to employ faculty, staff, and other employees otherwise at risk of unemployment
• 63 percent of colleges to keep students and faculty safe by purchasing COVID-19 tests, health screenings, and health care

American Rescue Plan funds included significant investments in key institutions in Alabama, including:

• Approximately $301 million for community colleges
• Over $334 million for 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Over $34 million for 4 MSIs – which includes Hispanic-Serving Institutions,
  Predominantly Black Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions.

Community colleges in Alabama receiving American Rescue Plan funds include:

• Bishop State Community College: $34,271,512
• Lawson State Community College: $34,045,562
• Shelton State Community College: $29,004,331
• H. Councill Trenholm State Community College: $21,002,921
• Gadsden State Community College: $18,767,865

HBCUs in Alabama receiving American Rescue Plan funds include:

• Alabama A&M University: $60,120,210
• Alabama State University: $42,725,038
• Bishop State Community College: $34,271,512
• Lawson State Community College: $34,045,562
• Tuskegee University: $30,961,457
• Shelton State Community College: $29,004,331
• H. Councill Trenholm State Community College: $21,002,921
• Gadsden State Community College: $18,767,865
• Miles College: $18,102,234
• Talladega College: $14,112,105
• J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College: $11,584,720
• Oakwood University: $10,806,960
• Stillman College: $9,171,243

Minority Serving Institutions in Alabama receiving American Rescue Plan funds include:

• Auburn University Montgomery: $15,781,694
• University of West Alabama: $6,804,076
• Chattahoochee Valley Community College: $6,000,926
• George Corley Wallace State Community College - Sel: $5,472,099

Examples of other colleges and universities in Alabama receiving American Rescue Plan funds include:

• University of Alabama: $54,903,000
• Auburn University: $40,998,202
• University of Alabama at Birmingham: $37,329,104